Venge"ance (?), n. [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge, L. vindicare to lay claim
to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of
which is of
uncertain origin, and the last
part akin to dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Avenge, Revenge,
Vindicate.]
1. Punishment inflicted in return for an
injury or an offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge.
To me belongeth vengeance and recompense.
Deut. xxxii.
35. To execute fierce vengeance on his foes.
Milton.
2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] Shak.
What a vengeance, or What the vengeance, what! --
emphatically. [Obs.] "But what a vengeance makes thee fly!" Hudibras. "What the vengeance! Could he not
speak 'em fair?" Shak. -- With a vengeance, with great violence; as, to strike with a vengeance. [Colloq.]
Hear it pronounced